Apple dropped the first iOS 18 developer beta right after the opening keynote of WWDC24. While the build packs several changes, many headline features are missing, and it is also buggy. But what about the iOS 18 public beta, which should bring even more features and offer better stability? When will it arrive?
The timing should be similar for the upcoming iPadOS 18, watchOS 11 and macOS Sequoia public betas, too.
iOS 18 public beta remains a few weeks away
You can already install the iOS 18 developer beta on your iPhone. However, unless you’re an actual developer or own a second device for testing, you should wait for the public beta. It should be less buggy and more appropriate for average users on their main devices.
During WWDC24, Apple only mentioned that public betas for iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11 and macOS Sequoia will land in July. The company did not provide an exact time frame. However, based on Apple’s previous iOS public beta release time frames, we can get a good idea of when the iOS 18 public beta will go live.
Over the last three years, Apple maintained a five-week gap between releasing the first iOS developer beta and the first public beta release. For example, the iOS 17 developer beta 1 arrived on June 5, 2023, while the first public beta dropped on July 12. Assuming Apple follows the same timeline, the first iOS 18 public beta should land the week of July 15. That’s five weeks after the first iOS 18 developer beta released on June 10.
Developer beta 2 should drop before public beta
Apple likely will release the second iOS 18 developer beta before the public beta program begins. The company usually drops a new developer beta every two weeks. So, iOS 18 developer beta 2 should come out sometime next week, unless Apple runs into last-minute problems. In such cases, the company could delay the build’s release by a week.
iOS 18 developer beta 2 should introduce a lot more changes and features. Apple Intelligence — the advanced AI suite coming to iPhone, Mac and iPad later this year — is unlikely to be a part of the package, though. Still, if you are already running the iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 developer beta, the second beta should address many stability problems you might have encountered.
To download any of the betas, sign up on the Apple Beta Software Program page.
